Laundry machines



N v. 5, 1 66 K. H. WOLVERTON 3 28 ,038

LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed Nov. 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Krmvz'T/f Woa 74-79 70 TTORNEY United States Patent 3,285,038 LAUNDRY MACHINES Kenneth H. Wolverton, Moline, Ill., assignor to Ametek, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 414,277 Claims. (Cl. 68-19) This invention relates to Washer-extractors and particularly to an anti-contamination dump valve arrangement for washer-extractors.

In commercial laundry machines, provision is made for dumping the water from the machine into a line leading to a sewer or drain. Near the end of the washing cycle, it is often desirable to draw air through the machine to assist in exhausting the moisture-laden air therein and to facilitate drying of the articles being laundered. In the past, when the exhaust fan was effective, air from the sewer or drain often entered the machine past the dump valve, causing contamination of the freshly laundered articles.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a washer-extractor that will permit the ready dumping of the washing liquid to the sewer or drain but which will prevent air from entering the machine through the dump valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a washer-extractor in which an anti-contamination means is provided in conjunction with the dump valve means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a washer-extractor in which the anti-contamination means is responsive to the pressure head of an accumulation of the liquid within the machine.

In one aspect of the invention, a washer-extractor may comprise a casing in which an imperforate stationary shell is located. A cylindrical basket adapted to hold articles to be laundered may be provided with a perforated peripheral wall and may be mounted for rotation within the shell. The shell may be fixed to a shaft that extends through seals in the side walls of the shell to the outside of the casing where the shaft is journaled in bearings. Motor means may be mounted on the casing and it may be drivingly connected by belt gearing to a pulley fixed to the shaft supporting the basket.

In another aspect of the invention, a fan may be mounted on the casing and it may be in communication with the interior of the shell for exhausting moistureladen air from the shell as well as for effecting the admission of outside air to the shell. To this end, a stack may be provided having a connection near the bottom of the shell and an inlet at any desired location where fresh, uncontaminated air may be available.

In still another aspect of the invention, a diaphragmoperated dump valve may be located at the bottom of the shell. The diaphragm may form one wall of a chamber having an outlet that connects to the bottom of a reservoir. The reservoir may be at a location slightly above that of the diaphragm of the dump valve and may have an outlet at its top leading to a solenoid operated pilot valve. The reservoir is at such a level and of such volume that with the pilot valve open, the diaphragm will just close the drain opening when no water is in the machine. A standpipe may be connected between the pilot valve and the reservoir. The standpipe is filled from the top by a pipe connected to a pipe running from inlet valves to the shell. The arrangement is such that with the pilot valve closed, the standpipe, reservoir and diaphragm will fill with water when the inlet valve opens to admit water to the shell. This head of water will close the diaphragm against the drain valve seat. After the washing operation when the pilot valve is opened, the water drains from the standpipe. The water pressure in the cylinder forces the diaphragm down, displacing more 3,285,038 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 water through the reservoir and out the pilot dump valve. The shell drains past the diaphragm-operated dump valve until the level is beneath the lowest point of the rotatable basket when the pressure head of the liquid in the reservoir then closes the diaphragm valve, and when the fan is rendered efiective, it draws clean, uncontaminated air through the stack rather than through the diaphragm valve.

The above, other objects and novel features of the improved washer-extractor with an anti-contamination dump valve arrangement will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a washer-extractor to which the principles of the invention have been applied, showing drain valve closed;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the parts in a different position, showing drain valve open and diaphragm held open with water flowing out of shell; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the parts in still another position, with water drained from shell and reservoir water closing dump valve.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to a washer-extractor including a casing 10 within which a stationary shell 11 is mounted. The shell 11 is imperforate and includes an inlet 12 leading from a valve 13 for introducing hot and cold water to shell 11. Shell 11 also includes a sump 14 having an outlet 15 adapted to 'be closed and opened by a diaphragm dump valve arrangement 16 to be described later.

A shaft 17 extends through seals in the side walls of the casing 10, thence through seals in the side walls of shell 11. It has fixed to it a cylindrical hollow basket 18 having a perforated peripheral wall. A pulley 19 fixed to shaft 17 outside of casing 10 is connected to a motor 20 by belt means 21. Motor 20 is adapted to rotate basket 18 at a rapid extracting speed. A reversing motor 22 is connected to a pulley 23 that drives through a shiftable clutch, reversing gear (not shown) to the armature shaft of motor 20 through a chain or belt 24. The motor 22 is adapted to rotate basket 18 in either direction at a relatively slow washing speed or tumbling speed. The shaft 17 may be hollow, having radial nozzles therein, and a steam line 17A may be connected to shaft 17 for introducing steam into the basket 18 to sterilize the articles therein as well as to facilitate extracting and drying them.

In order to exhaust the moisture-laden air from, and to circulate noncontaminated air through shell 11, a fan 25 is provided, the inlet of which is connected to shell 11 by an adapter 26. In order to supply clean noncontaminated air to shell 11, a stack 27 is provided that is connected to shell 11, near its bottom, by a conduit 28. The stack 27 preferably is on the side of the washerextractor opposite that where fan 25 is located, and can extend to any location where clean, noncontaminated air is available.

The valve 16 may comprise a dish-shaped metal disk 29 over the top of which a flexible diaphragm 30 is secured, forming a bellows-type construction. The disk 29 and diaphragm 30 are fixed to a bell-shaped deflector 31 by posts 32 spaced about the periphery of the disk 29. A ridge 33 surrounding opening 15 is adapted to cooperate with the diaphragm 30 when the latter is in expanded position to seal the opening 15.

A line 35 is connected to disk 29 by elbow 34 and is in communication with the space between disk 29 and diaphragm 30. Line 35 leads to the bottom of a reservoir 37, and a line leads from the top of reservoir 37 to a pilot valve 36. A standpipe 38 is connected to reservoir 37 as well as to the inlet valve 13. The location and size of the reservoir 37 are such that its bottom is substantially below the elevation of diaphragm 30 and its top is below the bottom of basket 18.

With valve 36 closed and valve means 13 open, water fills shell 11 to a predetermined level, also filling stand pipe 38 completely. When it is desired to dump the Water from shell 11, solenoid valve 36 is operated, relieving the pressure in reservoir 37 and standpipe 38 so that diaphragm 30 is depressed against the disk 29, permitting the water to pass diaphragm 30 and ridge 33. When the water is at a desired low level (below basket 18 and above reservoir 37), water flows from the reservoir, causing the diaphragm 30 to expand against ridge 33 to seal off opening 15.

Accordingly, fan 25 can be turned on with the result that clean, noncontaminated air is drawn into shell 11 through stack 27 and there will be no tendency for air to pass through dump valve 16 into shell 11.

Although the various features of the improved dump valve have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose one embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that changes may be made in such details and certain features may be used without others without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washer-extractor, a stationary shell having a Water inlet and a water outlet at its bottom; a basket rotatably mounted in said shell; a stack connected to said shell for admitting noncontaminated air into said shell; an exhaust fan connected to said shell for drawing air through said stack into said shell; a dump valve for closing said water outlet in said shell; and means for opening said dump valve to remove substantially 'all of the Water from said shell, said means closing said dump valve in response to the water level falling below the lowest point of the rotatable basket to prevent the admission of air to said shell through said dump valve.

2. In a washer-extractor, a stationary shell having a water inlet and a water outlet at its bottom; a basket rotatably mounted in said shell; a stack connected to said shell for admitting noncontaminated air into said shell;

an exhaust fan connected to said shell for drawing air through said stack into said shell; a diaphragm-operated dump valve for closing said water outlet in said shell; and means for opening said dump valve to remove substantially all of the water from said shell, said means closing said dump valve in response to the water level falling below the lowest point of the rotatable basket to prevent the admission of air to said shell through said dump valve.

3. In a Washer-extractor, a stationary shell having a water inlet and a water outlet at its bottom; a basket rotatably mounted in said shell; a stack connected to said shell for admitting noncontaminated air into said shell; an exhaust fan connected to said shell for drawing air through said stack into said shell; a diaphragm-operated dump valve for closing said Water outlet in said shell; and hydraulic reservoir means acting on said diaphragm when the level of water in said shell is beneath said basket for closing said dump valve.

4. In a washer-extractor, a stationary shell having a water inlet and a water outlet at its bottom; a basket rotatably mounted in said shell; a stack connected to said shell for admitting noncontaminated air into said shell; means for admitting steam to said basket; an exhaust fan connected to said shell for drawing air through said stack into said shell; a dump valve for closing said Water outlet in said shell; and means for opening said dump valve to remove substantially all of the water from said shell, said means closing said dump valve in response to the Water level falling below the lowest point of the rotatable basket to prevent the admission of air to said shell through said dump valve.

5. In a washer-extractor, a stationary shell having a water inlet and a water outlet at its bottom; a basket rotatably mounted in said shell; a stack connected to said shell for admitting noncontaminated air into said shell; means for admitting steam to said basket; an exhaust fan connected to said shell for drawing air through said stack into said shell; a diaphragm-operated dump valve for closing said water outlet in said shell; and means for opening said dump valve to remove substantially all of the water from said shell, said means closing said dump valve in response to the Water level falling below the lowest point of the rotatable basket to prevent the admission of air to said shell through said dump valve.

6. In a washer-extractor, a stationary shell having a water inlet and a water outlet at its bottom; a basket rotatably mounted in said shell; a stack connected to said shell for admitting noncontaminated air into said shell; means for admittingsteam to said basket; an exhaust fan connected to said shell for drawing air through said stack into said shell; a diaphragm-operated dump valve for closing said water outlet in said shell; and hydraulic reservoir means acting on said diaphragm when the level of water in said shell is beneath said basket for closing said dump valve.

7. In a washer-extractor, a stationary shell having a water inlet and a water outlet at its bottom; a basket rotatably mounted in said shell; a stack connected to said shell for admitting noncontaminated air into said shell; an exhaust fan connected to said shell for drawing air through said stack into said shell; a diaphragm-operated dump valve for closing said water outlet in said shell; a reservoir connected to the diaphragm of said dump valve; a standpipe connected to said reservoir; means for exhausting said standpipe and relieving pressure on the water in said reservoir so that said diaphragm-operated dump valve opens; and means for filling said standpipe as water is introduced into said shell.

8. In a washer-extractor, a stationary shell having a water inlet and a Water outlet at its bottom; a basket rotatably mounted in said shell; a stack connected to said shell for admitting noncontaminated air into said shell; an exhaust fan connected to said shell for drawing air through said stack into said shell; a diaphragm-operated dump valve for closing said water outlet in said shell; a reservoir connected to the diaphragm of said dump valve, said reservoir being of such size and at such a location that its top is beneath the bottom of said basket and above said diaphragm, and the bottom is substantially beneath said diaphragm; a standpipe connected to said reservoir; means for exhausting said standpipe and relieving pressure on the water in said reservoir so that said diaphragm-operated dump valve opens; and means for filling said standpipeas water is introduced into said shell.

9. In a washer-extractorg'a stationary shell having a water inlet and a Water outlet at its bottom; a basket rotatably mounted in said shell; a stack connected to said shell for admitting noncontaminated air into said shell; means for admitting steam to said basket; an exhaust fan connected to said shell for drawing air through said stack into said shell; a diaphragm-operated dump valve for closing said water outlet in said shell; a reservoir connected to the diaphragm of said dump valve; a standpipe connected to said reservoir; means for exhausting said standpipe and relieving pressure on the water in said reservoir so that said diaphragm-operated dump valve opens; and means for filling said standpipe as water is introduced into said shell.

10. In a washer-extractor, a stationary shell having a water inlet and a water outlet at its bottom; a basket rotatably mounted in said shell; a stack connected to said shell for admitting noncontaminated air into said shell; means for admitting steam to said basket; an eX- haust fan connected to said shell for drawing air through said stack into said shell; a diaphragm-operated dump valve for closing said Water outlet in said shell; a reservoir connected to the diaphragm of said dump valve, said reservoir being of such size and at such a location that its top is beneath the bottom of said basket and above said diaphragm, and the bottom is substantially beneath said diaphragm; a standpipe connected to said reservoir; means for exhausting said standpipe and relieving pressure on the water in said reservoir so that said diaphragm-operated dump valve opens;. and means for filling said standpipe as Water is introduced into said shell.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 2/1962 Great Britain. 6/1963 Great Britain.

WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A WASHER-EXTRACTOR, A STATIONARY SHELL HAVING A WATER INLET AND A WATER OUTLET AT ITS BOTTOM; 